Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Strategic Plan

From research engine to economic powerhouse

The Executive Chair of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office, Professor Gareth Goodier, today welcomed the release by the Victorian Government of a ten-year strategy for the precinct, saying it will drive better patient outcomes, as well as economic and jobs growth for the state.

The Special Minister of State, the Hon Gavin Jennings, the Minister for Health, the Hon Jill Hennessy and the Chair of the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Panel Harold Mitchell met today with precinct leaders to launch the strategy.

A commitment of $124 million towards electronic medical records across Melbourne Health, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre was also announced, as well as continued support for the work of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office.

“This is an important and exciting milestone for the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and indeed all of Victoria,” said Professor Goodier.

“There is no doubt that this precinct is Victoria’s, and Australia’s, biomedical powerhouse.

“We attract more competitive national biomedical research funding than any other precinct in Australia, our publications have twice the citation rate of anywhere in the world and our work has fundamentally changed and improved patient outcomes, for individuals and communities for more than 160 years.

“This strategy will help build on this success and will ensure Victoria remains at the forefront of biomedical care, discovery and education, creating even greater impact, in particular through the commercialisation of research.”

The strategy, From research engine to economic powerhouse identifies four key areas of focus for the precinct over the next ten years – increasing impact through commercialisation of research, creating value through the collection and use of the best data, ensuring the best facilities and infrastructure are in place, and having the best people to deliver care, make discoveries and train future generations of biomedical professionals.

“This framework for the Precinct’s future would not be possible without the vision of governments current and past that have invested in this precinct and biomedicine across the state,” Professor Goodier said. “It’s also testament to the collaborative approach that this precinct is known for.”

The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct is made up of more than 30 hospitals, medical research institutes, biotechnology organisations and universities largely collocated to the north of Melbourne’s CBD. It employs around 49,000 people and educates more than 7,000 biomedical students annually.

The Melbourne Biomedical Precinct Office led development of the 10-year strategy and was established by the Victorian Government in late 2016 to drive economic development in the Precinct and strengthen its position as a world leader in biomedical research, development and innovation.